Summary

UK digital television ownership is poised to surpass Internet usage for the first time, with 31% of the population owning digital TV versus 33% using the Internet as of February 2001. Despite rapid DTV growth, only 17% of owners use interactive digital services, as viewers still regard television primarily as an entertainment medium.

Source document circa 2001 preserved as-is

Tuesday, April 10, 2001

DTV to Overtake Internet

April 10, 2001 12:00am Source: Financial Times Limited


The number of UK digital television owners is expected to overtake the number of UK Internet users for the first time this month.

During February 33% of the population used the Internet, while only 31% owned a digital TV. Since January 2000 the rise in Internet usage has slowed almost to a standstill in the last few months, while digital television ownership has experienced sharp growth.

According to e-Mori, the company behind the research, the difference between the number of digital TV owners and Internet users is less than 1m.

While the gap narrows between Internet use and digital TV usage, few are taking advantage of the interactivity digital television promises.

“A PC is an information tool,” explained e-Mori’s head, Nicky Perrott. “And the internet is seen by most users as an extension of its use. The TV on the other hand, is still primarily a source of entertainment; digital TV means more channels, rather than interaction.”

While digital television ownership is up, the number of owners using interactive digital services through their sets is still low at 17% of the population. By contrast most of the people who have got a PC are using the web, so, for the time being the web is still well ahead on actual usage.